- ITV Report
The Tory leadership race will get serious as a crowded field of candidates outline their key campaign messages ahead of a Monday deadline to win enough support to continue in the race.
Big beasts such as Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt and Dominic Raab will be making announcements on their plans to try to convince enough Conservative MPs to back their candidacy.
Mr Johnson used his column in The Telegraph to pledge a tax cut for about 3 million people earning £50,000.
If elected leader – and therefore prime minister – he said he would use cash set aside to pay Europe for a no-deal Brexit to finance a move to up the 40% tax threshold to £80,000.
Meanwhile, Mr Gove will attempt to draw a line under his cocaine-taking revelations and try to present himself as a “serious” alternative to frontrunner Mr Johnson.
Michael Gove hopes to shake off cocaine criticisms as he launches leadership bid
At his official launch, Mr Gove, the environment secretary, will say: “I have led from the front undaunted by criticism and resolute in the need to solve complex issues because that is what our country needs.”
In a message to Tory MPs, he will add: “We need a leader who is ready to lead from day one.
“A leader ready to be prime minister from day one.
“A leader ready to face the scrutiny of the studio lights.”
Leadership hopefuls have until 5pm on Monday to secure the official backing of at least eight other Tory MPs to enter the race.
The leadership race was triggered on Friday when Theresa May handed in her resignation letter to the backbench 1922 Committee.
While she steps down as party leader, Mrs May will continue as prime minister until the new Conservative leader is chosen through a ballot of party members, likely before the summer recess in a few weeks’ time.
In all, 11 Tories have said they plan to run for leader, including Brexit supporter Dominic Raab.
Dominic Raab launches leadership campaign with climate change and energy pitch
Mr Raab, the former Brexit secretary who claimed negotiations with the EU would have gone better had he not been “undermined” in government, said the country needs “stubborn optimism” to succeed.
He painted himself as “the conviction Brexiteer with a plan” and said the UK’s departure from the EU cannot be delivered with “bluff and bluster”.
In his keynote speech on Monday, the former Brexit secretary spelled out his desire to break from the EU by October 31 even without a deal if necessary.
“We’re up against it and we won’t deliver Brexit with bluff and bluster,” he told the London event.
“I’m the conviction Brexiteer with the plan, the discipline and the focus to lead us out by the end of October.”
He also vowed to return to Brussels to make a “best final offer” to replace the controversial backstop.
And he said he would restore discipline in Government and bring forward a “Brexit budget” to cope with “this period of uncertainty”.
The MP, who quit his Cabinet post under Mrs May saying he could not support her deal to take the UK out of Europe, pitched a campaign focusing on climate change and energy.
In his speech, said: “We’ve got to look to the future. We’ve got to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.”
‘My Brexit plan is the only credible option’: Matt Hancock launches his leadership campaign
Mr Hancock, while launching his leadership campaign argued the country needs “a leader not just for the next six weeks or six months, but the next six years and more”.
Pointing toward Brexit, Mr Hancock, who backed remain in the EU referendum, ruled out proroguing Parliament in order to ensure the UK leaves the EU on October 31.
During his speech in central London, the health secretary said: “My Brexit delivery plan is the only credible plan that can deliver Brexit by the 31st October with the support both of the European Union and the House of Commons – that is just the reality of the situation.
“Some have said ‘stick with the current plan’, but the current plan has been seen to fail.
“Others say ‘let’s just run at no-deal’, but the brutal truth is we know that no-deal will not get through the House of Commons.
“And then there’s this idea from some people that to deliver Brexit we should suspend our parliamentary democracy – that we should prorogue Parliament.
“But that goes against everything that those men who waded onto those beaches fought and died for, and I will not have it.”
- The country needs a ‘serious leader’: Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt launches leadership campaign
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has earned the support of Cabinet colleague Amber Rudd, the work and pensions secretary.
Mr Hunt will use his launch event to stress his credentials as a statesman who can handle the complexities of Brexit.
“We are facing a constitutional crisis. Our new prime minister will preside over a hung Parliament,” Mr Hunt will say.
“This extremely serious moment calls for an experienced, serious leader. We need the art of tough negotiation, not the art of empty rhetoric.”
Previously, runners had only to get two others to back them – but the rules were changed last week as there were concerns there could be as many as 15 to 20 hopefuls entering the race.
The field of candidates to replace Theresa May is dominated by men, with only two women – Anrea Leadsom and Esther McVey – entering the race.
Both Ms Leadsom and Ms McVey are arch Brexiters, and the thorny issue of how to leave Europe – and whether to quit with or without a deal in place – is likely to be the defining issue of the contest.
